Join former admissions officer Sonja Bhan as she breaks down how research experience fits into the US college application process. Learn how to strategically showcase research on the Common App, understand why admissions officers value it, and explore how it compares to traditional extracurriculars. Gain insider insights, stay ahead of 2025-2026 admissions trends, and discover how to make your application stand out.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a former Ivy League officer and strengthen your path to college success!
2017 Hunter Engineering
Sonja brings a wealth of experience in undergraduate admissions, having chaired selection committees and evaluated thousands of applications. She has guided students to secure spots at top U.S. universities, BS/MD programs, and service academies. Sonja holds a bachelor’s degree in Middle Eastern and Asian Studies from Barnard College and a master’s degree in International Educational Development from UPenn.
Laila holds an AB in Social Studies with an emphasis on post-colonial theory and history from Harvard University, and an MM from the New England Conservatory in Jazz Voice. While in college, she held leadership roles on the Undergraduate Council, the Arts & Humanities Student Board, and a variety of activist organizations, including the Harvard Graduate Student Union.
Learn how to strategically present research experience in your US college application. Discover why admissions officers value research, how it showcases intellectual curiosity, initiative, and subject mastery, and how you can effectively incorporate it into the Common App.
Join former admissions officer Sonja Bhan as she shares insider insights on the evolving admissions landscape and how research can set you apart in a highly competitive applicant pool.